West Nile virus strikes early in the South Bay, may be to blame for death of Carson man

A 78-year-old Carson man infected with West Nile virus died this week, and though county health officials have not yet officially linked his death to the mosquito-borne illness, they have confirmed that the South Bay appears to be ground zero for this year's early reports of West Nile in Los Angeles County.

Albert Shipman died Tuesday night at Little Company of Mary Hospital in San Pedro after doctors there diagnosed him with West Nile virus, according to family members. Shipman was hospitalized for two weeks before succumbing to symptoms that at first pointed to a mild stroke, said his son, Alfonso Shipman of Carson.

"He was experiencing loss of memory, slurred speech and pain on his right side," Shipman said. "Then finally, about 10 days ago, they said it's West Nile. ... We were just devastated."

Meanwhile, another hospital patient -- Anna Lee Taylor of Torrance -- also was diagnosed with West Nile virus after she was taken to Torrance Memorial Medical Center six days ago, said her daughter-in-law, Debbie Taylor.

"She went down (last) Thursday. She was semi-conscious and had a very high fever of 103.5," Debbie Taylor said. "She's had three spinal taps and blood cultures."

The blood report indicated she had encephalitis secondary to West Nile virus, she said.

Thus far, county health officials say, five human cases have been officially reported in Los Angeles County this year, with no deaths.

A map on the county's website shows a heavy South Bay concentration of birds and squirrels testing positive for West Nile virus from January to July 17. West Nile is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Only one in five people infected will exhibit symptoms, but it can be deadly, especially to those older than 50, said Dr. Rachel Civen, epidemiologist for Los Angeles County.

"We're seeing the most West Nile virus in dead birds and mosquito pools than we've seen in many, many years in the Torrance area," Civen said. "Why, I don't know.

"Usually our focus is the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel because, generally, they tend to be warmer. Peak months usually are from late August through September. It will be picking up."

Deaths from West Nile are rare; most who contract the virus don't exhibit anything more than mild symptoms.

But there were six deaths (from 174 reported human cases) in 2012 from West Nile virus, according to the county health department's website. A total of three human cases were reported from the South Bay last year, Civen said.

Because there is no treatment or cure, Alfonso Shipman said it's important that residents understand the virus can be deadly.

His father was "a huge man and just to be taken down by a mosquito like that ... people need to be aware," he said.

The rise in West Nile activity in the South Bay is "a bit of an anomaly," said Truc Dever, director of community affairs for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

The agency attributes the early activity to weather conditions being "slightly" warmer -- by about 3 degrees -- than in past summers, Dever said, and also to what is thought to be a lower immunity among the bird population than in previous years.

Some of the earliest positive samples were found in mosquitoes near Machado Lake in Harbor City and the Wilmington Drain adjacent to the lake. Officials sprayed the area following the discovery.

Families of both Shipman and Taylor said there was no obvious point of infection, although Debbie Taylor said her mother-in-law had complained a few weeks earlier about a mosquito buzzing in her bedroom. She also lives close to a storm drain, Debbie Taylor said.

On Wednesday, vector control representatives canvassed a Carson neighborhood to caution residents about the presence of the virus and to share information on how to guard against exposure.

Altogether, three areas in Carson have been targeted for the door-to-door campaign.

"A lot of people are shocked," said Bryson Fong, one of the vector control specialists talking to residents Wednesday. Most, he said, were responsive to the offered property checks for standing water and other hazards that might put homeowners more at risk.

Carson resident Martha Council said she appreciated the brochures and other information the agency left at her front door.

"We do a lot outside," she said. "I don't live in fear (of it) but it's something we are aware of."

After the vector control specialists left, she said she'd make sure she applied insect repellent regularly.

Mosquito samples and dead birds collected throughout the agency's jurisdiction -- along with testing on the agency's sentinel chickens -- have yielded positive results for West Nile in Carson, Gardena, Harbor City, Wilmington, Long Beach, Lakewood and Bellflower.

While there is no vaccine, cure or treatment, Civen said researchers have discovered a horse vaccine that appears to be effective against West Nile.

"They're working on it," she said. Until then, prevention is key. Wearing long sleeves and using a mosquito repellent at dusk and dawn are especially important, she said.

"It's very deceptive," she said of the uptick in positive samples being found in the South Bay. "Walking around in Rolling Hills Estates or San Pedro on the coast, it doesn't strike you that you should be worried about a mosquito-borne infection. But people really do need to be made aware" of the danger.